Economics 101 teaches the basic premise of a balanced budget, "so simple that a cave man can understand it."

You cannot spend more than you take in. Yet there are many of our esteemed politicians who believe all you have to do is raise the debt limit so we can borrow more money from the Chinese to run the American economy.

Even worse, those who are in favor of spending cuts always point to Social Security and Medicare as the two major budget busters. I, too, am in favor of a major overhaul, starting with restoring the two programs to their original purposes. This would require removing all the "special" entitlements riding on their backs.

Speaking of entitlements, on any given day you can witness at least six or eight different companies offering free home phone service, free long distance, free cell phones, free minutes, with only the requirement that you already be on at least one other free government "entitlement."

The commercial actors make these ridiculous statements: "Now that I have my free phone I can call the doctor if my child gets sick." and "I can now call my grandchildren," and "I can now call work if I’m late." One admits that since the minutes are free, "I can use them for anything I choose."

The simple solution can be found only when politicians find the nerve and resolve to cut out the waste, fraud, "pork" and foreign aid to those countries who openly speak of their hatred for the "hand that feeds them."

I suggest that all who can access this year’s budget, read some of the wasteful items, such as $2.5 million grant for studying shrimp on a treadmill. Read on and see how disgusted you become.

Wake up, America, or learn to speak Chinese.

CLAUDE WYNDHAM

Chickasaw

Thanks for finding lost birthday gift

Thank you so much to the individual who found my nephew’s camera at the Gulf Coast Exploreum and turned it in at the desk. He had received the camera from his grandmother on his birthday just two weeks earlier.

When we realized before we left that day that he had taken it from around his neck, we looked and could not locate it. The desk told us that no one had turned it in. My nephew was so upset because not only had he lost his brand new camera, but he knew also that he would be in trouble with his parents for being irresponsible.

We were elated when we called back and Exploreum personnel told us it had been turned in by someone else who was visiting that day. That person did not leave a name, so in the hopes that the person reads the paper, I wanted to thank him or her for making my nephew’s day.

DONNA HENDERSON

Gulf Breeze, Fla.

Respect cyclists on the roads

You’re driving to work and a train or bus or highway workers impede your progress. Do you wait, or do you accelerate and slam into the train or bus or road crews?

So you’re driving to work and a bicyclist or pedestrian is on the road and is slowing you down. Do you wait until the coast is clear of oncoming traffic and pass the bike or pedestrian slowly and safely, making sure you give them a wide berth? Or do you accelerate and slam into the bicyclist or pedestrian?

There is no difference in these scenarios — trains, buses, highway workers and bicyclists are all part of the roads and each must be given our respect to ensure everyone’s safety.